Only 5 Percent Will Retire In Pastoral Ministry
The Pastor 1. Moral Failure 2. Gifts Do Not Match 3. False Expectations 4. Personality/Servanthood
The Church 1. False Expectations 2. Dysfunction/Dishonesty 3. Financial 4. Personal Attack/False Accusations
“ The Pastoral Crucible ”
Crucible The word “ crucible ” comes from joining two Latin words: cross and trial. True ministry is a painful refining test for God’s glory.
Bible Examples Joseph Esther David Christ Paul
The Three C’s 1. Character 2. Competency 3. Chemistry
II Timothy 4:1-5
I. The Island “This is why I left you in Crete” (Titus 1:5)
The Island Of Crete 1. Island is 135 miles long by 35 miles wide 2. Crete is part of the nation of Greece today 3. Crete first mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey 4. Three mountain ranges 5. Humid climate with snow on mountains 6. Population today of 650,000
A. Christian Faith – Acts 2:8-11 “And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians — we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. ”
B. Paul’s Journey To Rome “And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore” (Acts 27:12-13).
C. Sending Titus To Crete This was not a peach assignment! Insubordinate, Empty Talkers, Deceivers (1:10) Detestable, Disobedient, Unfit (1:16) “One of the Cretans,a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” (1:12-13)
II. The Individuals A. Paul 1. Author 2. Servant 3. Spiritual Father
B. Titus 1. Gentile (Galatians 2:3) 2. From Antioch Of Syria (Galatians 2:1) 3. Mentioned 13 Times By Name 4. Away At Paul’s Martyrdom (II Timothy 4:10) 5. Interim Pastor (Titus 1:5) 6. Noted By Historian Eusebius
Others Mentioned Replacement (Titus 3:12) C. Artemas or Tychicus Letter Bearers (Titus 3:13) D. Zenas And Apollos
III. The Instruction A. Key Words 1. Sound a. Doctrine (1:9; 2:1) b. Faith (1:13; 2:2) c. Speech (2:8)
Key Words 2. Good a. Character (1:8) b. Content (2:3) c. Conduct (1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1; 8, 14) 3. Grace Titus 2:11 and 3:7
B. Outline 1. Leadership Directives (1) Qualities In Elders (6-9) Responsibilities Of Elders (10-16)
B. Outline 2. Lifestyle Duties (2:1-10) Generational And Occupational Relation To God’s Word (2:5, 10)
B. Outline Liberating Demonstrations (2:11 – 3:15) 3. “Training Us To Renounce” (2:11) “Justified By His Grace” (3:7)
“ At The Proper Time ” (Titus 1:3) “At Just The Right Time” (NLT) “At His Appointed Season” (NIV) “In Due Time” (NKJV)
“ The Pastoral Crucible ” For churches seeking a shepherd, this is a “ strategic and opportune season in time” (1:3 – JFT) to “ clothe itself with biblical teaching” (2:10 – JFT).
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